Can-forming apparatus.



0. W. GRAHAM. GANTORMING APPAmlTUs.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 25, 1908.

"historian snares Parana oriaieiu.

CHARLES W. GRAHAM, OF ROME,'NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'lO AJHERICAN CAN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CAN-FORMING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 25, 1908.

able others skilled in the art to which it a ppertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to can forming apparatus. v Oneof the objects thereof is to provide simplepractical and ellicient means for seal-.

ing a can seam.

Another object is to provide means of the above type, peculiarly adapted for use in connection with cans in which the seam is positioned in a normally rounded or convex portion of the an.

Other objects will he in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elei'nents, and arrangement of parts which will he exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the a pp'lication. of which will be indicated in the fol lowing claims. in the accompanying drawing. wherein is shown one or more of various possible enihodin'ients of the several features of. this invention, Figure l is a diagrammatic. side elevation 01 one of the same. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken .ubstantially on the line X-X'of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line of Y' -Y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional View of a slightly ditlerent form of apparatus.

Similar reference characters refer to simi lar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

In order to render more. readily and l'ullv understood certain features of this invention, it may here he noted that in a can seam which is positioned in a convex portion of i the can there is often a tendency of the same to spring open at the edges, and form ,an open crevice at this point. Such an openlng tends to result in an'uneeonoinical and ineflicient use of flux and solder, and in an unsightly seam. The thickness of the seam, moreover, is materially increased, and the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May war, it will.

Serial No. 412.566.

tightness of the joint with the can head cor 1.'es ')ondingly diminished. The above and other defects are remedied. and many positive advantages attained by the use of apparatus ol the nature (it that hereinafter described.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing. there is shown in Fig. 1 a support or horn l. which may be of a general circular outer contou at .3, and gradually merge as at :3 into the elliptic form 4'. The horn 1 throughout the elliptic portion thereof is preferably formed as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. and comprises the portions 5, having therebetwccn webs 6, and slotted as at 7 throughout. its length. A propelling chain 8. provided with pins 9, adapted to engage-the rear edges of the can. bodies 10, is mounted adjacent the. horn 4, and driven from any desired sourceof power. This chain. or its equivalent. draws the bodies /from the forming apparatus indicated at 11,

and as they pass from the circular to the elliptic portion of the horn they are forced into the flattened form shown in Fig. 2. it may here honoted that the term flattened is used throughout in a broad sense to denote any tendency to'bring the parts into a plane. irrcspw'tive of how l'ar this tendency is carried: or, in other words. it may denote merely a reduction in convexity of" the parts to which the term refers. It may also be noted that the term elliptic is used in a broad. and perhaps loose, scnsc,'to cover any approximation to elliptic .t'orm, irrespective oi the precise curve which the parts assume.

As the cans are propelled along the horn 1. their spams 12-21 re brought first into oper alive petatioir to lluxing mechanism 13, which is diagrammatically shown as comprising a roller, journaled in the walls of a vessel or tank containing .theflux. The cans, which are suitably spaced along the horn, are then brought into operative relation to the soldering mechanism, which i. diagraminatically shown as comprisilrg a tank 14 containing molten solder. and a belt or chain 'lormed 0t a plurality of pivotally connected blocks l5, the latter part being mounted upon suitable pulleys and driven as indicated. It may here be noted that throughout the following claimsthe terin solder is used in a broad sense, to comfinally the seam is cooled and the solder harjoint, whether it be the adhesive itself or a solder, and leaves a clean joint. After this on. Fig. 2 includes a section through the substantially identical with that of the first prehend any substance used in sealing a preparatory agent, as the flux; The cans next pass over andare acted upon by a Wiping wheel '16, which removes all surplus device has performed its functions the cans are cooled in their flattened form, e 'pther by holding-them until they ive up thei excess heat, or, preferably, by %ringing them into operative relation to a positive cooling agent, here shown as a long nozzle 17, sup

plied by a conduit 18, and adapted to throw a fiat jet of cold air 19 against the can-seamf They may then pass from the horn between the rollers 20, which are preferably grooved as at 20" to provide a passage for the seam, and are then in the case of round cans permitted to return to their normal cylindrical form;

The operation of the above described embodiment of my invention'is substantially as follows: The cans are drawn from the forming mechanism 11, and forced into the elliptical shape represented, with the seam 12 at the lowermost point. This seam is preferably of the lock-and-lap type shown in my co-pending application, Serial Number 348,532, filed December 19th, 1906, and thus is adapted to resist the tension placed there lock portion of such a seam. As the seam passes over the successive mechanisms shown it is first thoroughly fluxed, then solder is applied to the joint, next excessive solder is removed and the joint wiped clean, and

dened. The latter is preferably done in a positive manner, as shown, but it is to be understood that the term cooling, as used in certain of the claims, is intended to comprehend a'mere passive action in this respect in permittingthe'solderto cool. The body is then released and springs back to its normal form. It is to be understood that cer tain of the portions of the apparatus herein shown are diagrammatic in nature, and other types of apparatus could be employed which would embody certain features of this invention, although that above described is preferable. For example, there ls-shown- 111 Fig. 4 of the drawings a can body 21 which is held in-an elliptical form by the-outer guides 22 and E23, permit-ting the .chain 24 and pin 25 to act as indicated. The guides 22 and 23 are preferably removablyamounted upon the cars or lugs 26 of supporting members 27. The action of these parts is described embodiment, and it will not benecessary to set forth the same in detail. I

It .Will thus be seen that there is provided apparatus in which the objects of this invention are accomplished, and the above described advantages are, among others, presfor example, the means forholding the can in flattened form whilethe solder is hardened, are of independent value, irrespective of the remainder of the apparatus; but I have found that the best results appear to be afforded by flattening the canduring the operation of two or more of the above mechamsms.

The entire apparatus is simple, cheap, and

durable in construction, and its action is efficient, reliable, and economical. The joint is not only thoroughly sealed at all points,

with a minimum expenditure of solder, but

presen-ts a finished appearance, and the highly desirable thin eross'section afforded by the thicknesses. of the metal lying smoothlyone upon another.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description',

or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be under: I

stood that the language usedin the follow? ing claims is intended to cover all of that generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements, ofthe" scope of the invention'which, as a m'itter of language, might be said to fall tiherebetween. 1

Having described my invention, iwhat I claim as new, and desire to secure Letters Patent, is: 1

1. In apparatus of the class'described,in

combination, means adapted to force the portion of a can body in which the seani is positioned into temporarily flattened condition, solder applying means, and means adapted to bring the said solder applying means and said can seam into operative relation one to'another with said can in said condition.

In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, means adapted to apply solder can with the portion thereof in which the scam is positioned in temporarily flattened condition, and m'eansadapted to wipe said seam while held in said condition.

3. .ln'apparatus of the class described, in combination, means adapted to apply solder the can with the portion in which the seam is positioned in temporarily flattened condition during the cooling thereof.

4; In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, means adapted to force the porwi ing to a causeam, means adapted to hold the to a canseam, and means adapted to hold body while in said condition into successive relation to said solder applying means and i said wiping means.

In apparatus of the class described, in combination, means adapted to force the portion of a can body in which the seam is positioned into temporarily flattened condition, solder applying means, and means l l l i 1 i l adapted to bring said can body and said, solder applying means into operative rela- 1 tion one to another and to permit the cool- 5 ing of said seam with said can in said condition.

6. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, means adapted to apply solder to a can seam, wiping means, and means adapted to hold said can with the portion in which the seai'n is positioned in temporarily flattened condition, and bring the same in said condition into operative relation to said solder applying-wind wiping means aml hold the same in the said concombination, means adapted. to force the portion of a can body in which. the scam is positioned into temporarily 'llattened condition, solder applying means, wiping mains, and means adapted to bring said can body in said condition successively into operative relation to said solder applying means andsaid wiping means and to hold the same in the said condition during the cooling thereof.

9. ln apparatus of the class described, in combination, means adapted to force a round can body temporarily into elliptic form with the scam in a oortion of reduced convexity. solder ap ilying means, and means adapted to bring said solder applying means andsaid can into operative relation one to another with said can in said condition.

10. l'n apiaratus of the class described, in combination, means adapted to force a round can body temporarily into elliptic form with the scam in. a portion of reduced convexity, solder applying means, and means adapted to bring said can in said condition into op erative relation to said solder applying means and hold the same in said condition during the cooling thereof. l

ll. in apparatus ot. the c ass described, lin combinatioi'i, means adapted to 'l'orcel a round can temporarily intoelliptic form, with the scam in a position ol reduced con vexity, solder applying means, wiping means, and means adapted to bring said can in said condition successively into operative relation to said 'soldc' applying means and said wiping means, and hold the same in the said condition during the cooling thereof.

12. In apparatus of the class described. in combination, means adapted to hold a normally round can body with the portion in which the seam is positioned in a temporary condition of reduced convexity against its tendency to resume round form, solder ap plying means, and means adapted to'bring said can body in said condition into operative relation to said solder applying means, and hold the same in the said condition during the cooling thereof.

13. In apparatus of the class described. in combination. means adapted to hold a normally round can body with the portion in which the seam-is positioned in a temporary condition of reduced.convexity against its tendency to resume round condition, solder applying means, wiping means, and means adapted to bring said can body successively into operative relation to said solder applying means and said wiping means, and hold the same in the said condition during the cooling thereof.

l=-l-. in apparatus of the class described, in combination, a supporting member having a cross section of substantially elliptical contour, means adapted to force a normally round can body upon said member, solder applying means, wiping means, and means adapted to force said can body along, said member successively into operative relation to said solder applying means and said wiping means.

to. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a supporting member having a cross section of substantially elliptical coir tour, means adapted to Force a normally round can body upon said member, solder applying means, Wiping means, and means adapted to force said can bod along said member successively into operative relation to said solder applying means and said wiping means and maintain the same upon said member during the cooling thereof.

to. in apparatus ol. the class described, in

combination, a guiding member adapted to hold a can in substantially elliptical form, solder applying means, and a chain pro vided with a projection adapted to engage said can and propel the same along said guiding aneinber into operative. relation to said solderapplying means and maintain the same upon said, member during the cooling thereof.

1.7. in apparatus of the class described, in

combiinition, a member having a cross section of substantially elliptical contour and provided with a longitudinal opening, solder applying means, and achain having a projection adapted to enter said opening in said member and propel a can body along the same in operative relation to said solder applying means and. maintain the same thereon during the cooling thereof.

18. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a member having a cross section of substantially elliptical contour and provided with a longitudinal recess, solder applying means, wiping means, cooling means, and means provided With amember adapted to enter said recess in said first member and engage therear surface of a can body thereon and propel the same successively into operative relation to said solder applying means, wiping means, and cooling means.

19. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a can supporting member having a cross section of substantially elliptical contour, solder applying means, wiping means, both of .said last mentioned means being positioned to coact with that portion of said supporting member which has a reduced convexity, and. means adapted to move said can along said supporting member successively into operative relation to said solder applying means and said wiping means.

20. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a can supporting member comprising a portion having a cross section of substantially circular contour and adapted to receive a can thereon, another portion having a cross section of substantially ellipticaltcontour and an intermediate portion, the cross section of which merges from a substhntially circular contour to a substan tially elliptical contour, and means adapted to move said can successively over said firstmentioned portion and said intermediate portion and said second-mentioned portion, whereby said can Will be forced to assume a flattened form. v

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES WV. GRAHAM.

lVitnesses B. M. ANDERSON, F. B. Barns. 

